Hans Gedda

Hans Gedda has been one of Sweden's leading portrait photographers since the late 1960s. He is known for his intimate portraits of some of the greatest icons of our time, from politicians and kings to actors and musicians. His photographs can be found in the Moderna Museet collection and in the National Portrait Collection.
In February 1990, Mandela made his first trip abroad after his release from Pollsmore Prison in Cape Town. He travelled to Sweden. Hans Gedda was commissioned by Göteborgs Posten to take some pictures of Mandela. The photo with the fist, which is the most famous, was published on a full page. The picture was taken in a hurry at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stockholm. The then Foreign Minister Sten Andersson was holding the flash. Gedda took a maximum of ten exposures in total. He followed his rule of not printing unnecessarily. There was also little time, an important meeting was waiting. No one remembers what the meeting was about. But few people forget the pictures.
Hans Gedda himself has described the photo session as follows:

‘It was in 1990 that I photographed Nelson Mandela and took the first portrait of him after he was released after 27 years in prison. It was incredible to meet Mandela. The adrenaline was rushing, it was magical to see him come into the room. I almost thought I was dreaming, I had to pinch myself. I have not experienced that since then.

The clenched fist is the ANC's gesture for freedom. I saw a picture in a newspaper showing Mandela stepping out of the aeroplane at Arlanda and it looked like he was making the gesture of freedom on his forehead. I thought it was a good idea, but I didn't know if I would dare ask him. It was a bit controversial.

But when I asked him, he just laughed and thought I was crazy. We had an almost childlike connection and laughed at each other.’